Lift



Dec. 26, 1950 o. MERKEL 2,535,221

LIFT

Filed June 11, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /N l E N 70/? 0H0 Mar/rel y A #0may 0. MERKEL Dec. 26, 1950 LIFT 2.Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1949 35I/VVENTOR 0/10 Mar/rel fwa an Attorney Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE LIFT Otto Merkel, Hawthorne, N. Y.

Application June 11, 1949, Serial No. 98,587

Claims.

The invention comprehends a lift.

The carrying or lifting of aged, infirm, invalid persons, or weightyarticles from one level to another, is a difficult, well-nigh impossibletask particularly in the case of invalids, since the added weight andbulk of a wheel chair adds to the inherent difficulties. In fact, aninvalid must oft-times stay either permanently up or downstairs, even inhomes which are equipped with an elevator for stairs, if a stair landingis interposed between the top of the stairs, or second floor, and thefirst. An example of a stair elevator of the type referred to is,,by wayof example disclosed in Patent Number 1,358,062 dated November 9 1920.

One object of my invention is the provision of a lift which will liftand return invalid, aged or infirm persons from one level to anotherwith ease and dispatch,as for example, from the floor level to a stairlanding and vice-versa.

Another object comprehends a lift, which may be used in connection witha bridge, if desired, for lifting invalids or weighty objects from floorlevel to the platform of a stairway elevator, such as is disclosed inPatent Number 1,358,062.

A furtherobiect of the invention is a lift which can be controlled andcaused to move from one extreme position to another from a positionremote the lifting mechanism.

An additional object is a lift, the platform of which becomes part ofthe floor when in lowered position, and the lifting mechanism of whichcan be positioned and mounted therebeneath, on the supporting beamsaffixed therebelow, without undue disturbance of or change of existinghouse structure.

Briefly described, the lift includes a platform, which when lowered, ispositioned and rests level with the adjacent flooring and forms partthereof, said platform mounted on a base plate which is fixedly mountedon a mechanism positioned therebelow and remotely controlled, forlifting and lowering the platform. A bridge may be provided, for use incertain locations.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the lift in retracted position, with theplatform thereof forming part of the floor.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the lift applied to a practical use, adjacenta. stair landing.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the lift in retracted position.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the raised lifting device.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of Fig. 4 showing the lifting means.

The lift comprises a platform 5 mounted on table-like base 6, as bybolts 1. The platform, fabricated of plywood, or other material havingthe desired structural characteristics, preferably is of sufficientdimension to accommodate a wheel chair or other bulky object with ease,while base 6 is preferably a steel or other metal plate.

Mounted beneath the base 6, and secured thereto as by welding, is arigid skeleton supporting frame 8 having plate 9 spaced below said baseand a plurality of cross-braces l0 therebetween.

Rigidly affixed to and extending vertically beneath frame 8 are twopairs of plate-like extensions H and [2. A pair of elongated arms [3 arejournalled at one end on the pair of extensions H, as by studs, andextend downwardly therefrom at an oblique angle relative to frame 8.Rollers 14 are journalled at the free ends of the arms l3, and thelatter are rigidly connected together, intermediate their ends, by thecylindrical braces l5 and IS. The brace I6 is provided with a rod [6'extending therethrough and through the arms 13 so that the opposite endsof the rod l 6 extend outwardly from the sides of the arms. On theseopposite ends are pivoted another pair of arms H, the lower ends pivotedto plates I8, rigidly mounted on bed plate It.

Welded or otherwise secured to the outer sides of arms I! are upwardlyextending plates 20 to which are pivoted as at M links 22, the otherends of which are pivoted to plate-like extensions l2.

Toward one end of base 6, and extending therebeneath is another pair ofdepending extensions 23, to which are pivoted, as at 24, a pair of links25, the lower ends of which are pivoted, at 26. to arms ll. These linksare dimensioned to maintain level the platform 5 as the lift is raisedand lowered, and prevent wobbling.

To the outer ends of arms I! is rigidly secured, at 21, a yoke 28, tothe underside of which is pivotally secured the head of piston 29, ofhydraulic jack cylinder 30. The latter is mounted on channel-like plate3|, secured between arms [3 and has connected thereto a tubing 32,connected to hydraulic fluid pump 33, having pump handle 34.

In order to obviate undue disturbance of existinghouse structure, and asa firm base support for the lift, bed :plate I 9 is formed at one endwith a pair of obliquely angled extension with flanges 38, while theother end is provided with lower side walls 31, vertical extension 38and flange 39. The construction of the bed plate only requires theattachment of beams or supports B to the existing floor beams, as aframe for said plate, since flanges 35 and flange 39 can be rigidlysecured to and rest upon said beams and a firm rigid support is therebyformed.

When in retracted position depicted in l and platform 5 becomes part ofthe adjacent flooring F, with the sub-flooring being indicated by theletter S. There is no disturbance of floor area, with the pump 33positioned adjacent a stairway, in the application of the inventionillustrated herein.

If it i desired, for example, to use a stairway elevator of the typeillustrated in Patent Number 1,358,062, with a stairway landing Linterposed between the floor and stairs S, an invalid ma be wheeled onthe platform 5, pump handle 3% actuated, after fluid valve 483 isclosed, raising the platform level with the stair landing. In operationhydraulic fluid i forced through tubing 32, into cylinder 35, expandingpiston 23 to force yoke 28 upwardly, through the opposing action of theEil base of cylinder operating against plate 3|. With the opposite endsof arms l? on fixed pivot points it, the upper ends of arms i3 arecaused through the cooperating movement, to lift the platform as rollersit move inwardly of extensionSEi.

With the platform in elevated position, as shown in Figs. 2 and a, ahinged bridge B may be employed to bridge the gap between the edge .ofthe platform and the stair landing, and, as

indicated in Fig. 2, the movement of the rollers M away from extension38 is more than compensated for by the opposite travel of the arms 1 3.r After the invalid is moved from the platform 5 to the stair landing,valve it may be opened, retracting the lift so that platform 5 againforms part of the flooring.

The invention may be employed not only for lifting invalids to stairlandings, but for elevating weighty objects in any desired locationwhere the lift may be secured. Means other than hydraulic, such ascompressed air, may be employed, and I desire to make such changes ormodifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

I contemplate, for example, that the lifting means between base 6 andplate i9 may be a telescopic ram hydraulic lift, or an expanding'device'in the nature of a parallel bar expanding grille, or gate, orany lifting means which can be mounted between the platform and basewithout undue disturbance of a house structure and capable of beingmounted between, but not below existing floor beams.

I claim:

1. A lift comprising a support having extending flanges, a pair of armseach pivotally secured at one end to one end of the support and a yokesecured to the other ends of said pair of arms, a second pair of armsrigidly jointed together intermediate their ends by braces, one of saidbraces having a rod journalled therethrough and pivotally carrying thefirst pair of arms intermediate their ends, the second men ioned pair ofarms havirr mounted thereon at one end a frame and base thereabovecarrying a platform, the other end of the latter pair of arms havingjournalled thereon a pair of rollers movable on the support and a platesecured between the ends, a fluid operated cylinder and cooperatingpiston between the yoke and base plate, links pivoted between the armsand the said frame and support, and a fluid pump having a valve operableremote the lift for controlling movement of the pistons.

2. A lift for positioning in the same plane as and beneath a floorhaving floor beams therebeneath, including: a support having a pair offlanges at one end and a flange at the other end, said flanges adaptedto rest on and be secured to structure attachable to but not extendingbelow the floor beams; a pair of arms each having one end pivotallysecured to one end of the support and a yoke secured to the other endsof said pair of arms; another pair of arms rigidly joined together bybraces, one of said braces having a rod journalled therethrough andhaving the other pair of arms pivoted thereon intermediate their ends;the second mentioned pair of arms having pivoted thereto at one end aframe and base thereabove carrying a plat form, the other end havingjournalled thereon a pair of rollers and a plate secured between theends; a fluid operated cylinder and cooperating piston between the yokeand base plate; links pivoted between both pairs of arms and the saidframe and support; a valved pump connected to the cylinder operableremote the lift to extend and retract the piston.

3. A lift for positioning in the same plane as and beneath a floorhaving floor beams therebeneath, including: a support having a pair offlanges at one end and a flange at the other end, said flanges adaptedto rest on and be secured to structure attachable to but not extendingbelow the floor beams; a pair of arms each having one end pivotallysecured to one end of the support and a yoke secured to the other endsof said pair of arms; another pair of arms rigidly joined together bybraces, one of said braces having a rod journalled therethrough andhaving the other pair of arms pivoted thereon intermediate their ends;the second mentioned pair of arms having pivoted thereto at one end aframe and base thereabove carrying a platform. the other end havingjournalled thereon a pair of rollers and a plate secured between theends; a fluid operated cylinder and cooperating piston between the yokeand base plate; linkage between both pairs of arms and the said frameand support; connecting means operable remote the lift to extend thepiston whereby the yoke and base plate are spread apart to cause theends of one pair of arms carrying the frame, base and platform to lift.

4. A lift for positioning in the same plane as and beneath a floorhaving floor beams therebeneath, including: a support having a pair offlanges at one end and a flange at the other end, said flanges adaptedto rest on and be secured to structure attachable to but not extendingbelow the floor beams; a pair of arms each having one end pivotallysecured to one end of the support and a yoke secured to the other endsof said pair of arms; another pair of arms rigidly joined together bybraces, one of said braces having a rod journalled therethrough andhaving the other pair of arms pivoted thereon intermediate their ends;the second mentioned pair of arms having pivoted thereto at one end aframe and base thereabove carrying a platform, the other end havingjournalled thereon a pair of rollers and a plate secured between theends; a fluid operated cylinder and cooperating piston between the yokeand base plate; linkage between both pairs of arms and the said frameand support; a fluid pump connected to the cylinder and operable remotethe lift to extend the piston whereby the yoke and base plate carryingopposing ends of the pairs of arms are spread apart to cause the otherends of one pair of arms carrying the frame, base and platform, to lift.

5. A lift for positioning in the same plane as and beneath a floorhaving floor beams therebeneath, including: a support having a pair offlanges at one end and a flange at the other end, said flanges adaptedto rest on and be secured to structure attachable to but not extendingbelow the floor beams; a pair of arms each having one end pivotallysecured to one end of the support and a yoke secured to the other endsof said pair of arms; another pair of arms rigidly joined together bybraces, one of said braces having a rod journalled therethrough andhaving the other pair of arms pivoted thereon intermediate their ends;the second mentioned pair of arms having pivoted thereto at one end aframe and base thereabove carrying a platform, the other end havingjournalled thereon a pair of rollers and a plate secured between theend; a fluid operated cylinder and cooperating piston REFERENCES CITEDThe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date DeVol Jan. 31, 1922 Number

